County / In Brief

March 22, 2013

Maui fishermen are invited to "talk story" with the chairman of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, William J. Aila Jr., from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Maui Waena Intermediate School.

"It is our hope that we can work with the fishing community to come up with positive solutions to fishing issues in Hawaii," he said.

The gathering is an opportunity for fishermen to share their fishery-related concerns and to have their questions answered directly by Aila, the DLNR news release said.

It will be an informal meeting, "aimed at allowing open and honest conversations about fishing issues," the news release said, adding that similar meetings have been held on Oahu.

For more information about the fishing talk-story session, contact the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources Maui office at 243-5294.

*****

Fairmont slated to observe Earth Hour

The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui will turn off its lights at 8:30 p.m. Saturday as part of Earth Hour, a worldwide event aimed at drawing attention to climate change.

The event is organized by the World Wildlife Fund, and Fairmont hotels and resorts around the world will go dark.

In addition to switching off nonessential lighting, the Fairmont will hold its first annual Lights Out Picnic, with a portion of the proceeds going to the World Wildlife Fund.

Those attending will be able to pick up their picnic dinner and blanket at the resort's Caffe Ciao Bakery & Deli, beginning at 6 p.m., and walk down to the oceanfront Polo Lawn, where there will be hula and Samoan fire dancing and stargazing with astronomer Becky Sydney, founder of the Maui Astronomy Club.

Picnics will cost $45 for two people.

Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. Last year, 6,950 cities and towns across 152 countries participated in the event.

*****

Car seat inspections Saturday in Kahului

Free child car seat and booster seat inspections will be done from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of Maui Marketplace near Sports Authority on Dairy Road in Kahului.

Those interested in having child car seats checked to see whether they're properly installed should show up with the child, car seat or booster seat and car. An inspection takes about 30 minutes for each seat.

The inspections are done on a first-come, first-served basis.

The inspection Saturday follows one last month where most of the 25 car seats checked had problems. Under state law, child car seats are required for children under age 4. Children from ages 4 to 7 are required to be restrained in either car seats or booster seats while riding in vehicles.

Information about upcoming child car seat inspections is available on Facebook by looking up Maui County Child Passenger Safety at www.facebook.com/ mauichildpassengersafety.

*****

Monday last day for senior nominations

Nominations for male and female Outstanding Older Americans are being accepted until 4 p.m. Monday, according to the Maui County Office on Aging.

Nominees must be 65 years or older and Maui County residents. Any individual, club or organization may nominate candidates for the award. Previous winners are not eligible.

This is the 45th year of the awards, which have been presented since 1968. Wendell Crockett was the first Maui County recipient of the award. Last year's awardees were Michelle Paularena of Kahului and Matthew Napier of Kaanapali.

The awards will be presented at a luncheon to be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 7 in the Maui Beach Hotel's Elleair Rainbow Ballroom.